Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-17T18:00:46.676Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Divergent Pottery Firing Practices at the Advent of the Early Bronze Age: The Social Integration of Crafts and Craftspeople at Kura-Araxes Sites in the Northeastern Caucasus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

MaryFran Heinsch
MaryFran Heinsch*
Affiliation:
University of Chicago, Department of Anthropology, 1126 East 59th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, U.S.A.
Get access

Abstract

Two separate pottery types, Kura-Araxes and Velikent Fine Wares can be found together at a number of Early Bronze Age sites in the Northeastern Caucasus. These ceramics are strikingly different in their appearance. Velikent Fine Ware bears indications that it may have been fired at a much higher temperature than Kura-Araxes wares. The obvious contrasts in their production raised suspicions that Velikent Fine Wares represented either an import or an intrusive production regime perhaps linked to the advent of Bronze metallurgy in this region or at least relying on a shared pyrotechnology. Prior results of Xeroradiographic analysis and INAA are merged with recent re-firing analysis to examine these hypotheses. The findings suggest that while a specific link between metal and pottery production cannot be confirmed, the emergence of divergent firing practices within an otherwise unified production tradition speaks to complex relationships between craftspeople within Early Bronze Age communities in the Caucasus.

Keywords

archaeologyceramicart
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1319: Symposium WW – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IX , 2011 , mrsf10-1319-ww09-07
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Sofaer, J.. Oxford J Arch. 25 (2), 127–147 (2006).Google Scholar
2. Livingstone-Smith, A.. J Arch Sci. 28, 991–1003 (2001).Google Scholar
3. Kohl, P., The Making of Bronze Age Eurasia. (Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007) p.108.Google Scholar
4. Kohl, P., The Making of Bronze Age Eurasia. (Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007) p.107.Google Scholar
5. Kohl, P., The Making of Bronze Age Eurasia. (Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007) p. 108.Google Scholar
6. Gadzhiev, M., Kohl, P., Magomendov, R., Stronach, D., and Gadzhiev, Sh.. Eur Ant 6, 47–123 (2000).Google Scholar
7.. Heinsch, M. and Vandiver, P.. in Beyond the Steppe and the Sown, edited by Peterson, D.L., Popova, L.M. and Smith, A.T. (Brill, Boston, 2006) pp. 382–394.Google Scholar
8. Heinsch, M., in press.Google Scholar
9. Gadzhiev, M., Kohl, P., Magomendov, R., Stronach, D., and Gadzhiev, Sh.. Eur Ant 6, 47–123 (2000).Google Scholar
10. Vandiver, P.. Archeomaterials. 2, 139–174 (1988).Google Scholar
11. Rye, O., Archaeometry 19 (2), 205–211 (1977).Google Scholar
12. Bishop, R.L. and Neff, H.J., in Archaeological Chemistry IV, edited by Allen, R.O. (American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C., 1989) pp. 576–586.Google Scholar
13. Heinsch, M., in press.Google Scholar
14. Heinsch, M., in press.Google Scholar
15. Tite, M.S. and Maniatis, Y.. Nature 257, 122–123 (1975).Google Scholar
16. Palumbi, G.. ANES 40, 80–134 (2003).Google Scholar
17. Sagona, A.. The Caucasian Region in the Early Bronze Age (BAR International, London, 1984).Google Scholar
18. Grimshaw, R.. The Chemistry and Physics of Clay. 4th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1971) p. 764.Google Scholar
19. Feathers, J.. Am Ant 54 (3), 579–588 (1989).Google Scholar
20. Tite, M., Feestone, I, Meeks, N and Bimson, M.. In Archaeological Ceramics. Ed Olin, J. and Franklin, A. (Smithsonian, Washington D.C, 1982) pp. 109–120.Google Scholar
21. Tite, M.S. and Maniatis, Y.. Nature 257, 122–123 (1975).Google Scholar
22. Rye, O.. PotteryTechnology, (Taraxacum, Washington, 1981) p. 98.Google Scholar
23. Miller, H.. In The Prehistory and History of Ceramic Kilns. (American Ceramic Society, 1997) pp. 41–72.Google Scholar
24. Moorey, P.. Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries. (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1994) p.144.Google Scholar
25. Gosselain, O.. J Arch Sci 19, 243–259 (1992).Google Scholar